The NIDO by Pininfarina rethinks automobile design

Overview

The overall architecture of the car was also chosen for functionality: the single-box shape allows more room for the motion of the sled shell of structural plastic reinforced by a sub-frame in stainless steel tubing to help keep the overall weight of the system as low as possible. A new concept of chassis construction has also been developed, replacing the traditional floor tray, tunnel and firewall configurations with a structure in cellular sheet metal. This improves the energy absorption capacity in collisions and provides excellent torsional stiffness. Cellular sheet metal technology consists of a sandwich made up of four or more thin layers: flat sheets are used for outside sections, whereas for internal parts, two or more ribbed sheets were assembled together with their respective corrugations opposed.

The front moulding is completely covered with a cushion of energy absorbing material to present safer surfaces in the event of collision with a pedestrian, and thus minimise injury; it houses, among other elements, the windscreen wiper and windscreen washer fluid filler cap. To reduce head injuries in the event of a collision with a pedestrian, the windscreen pillar is also fitted with a collapsible covering consisting of an external plastic section to fit in with the rest of the bodywork and an internal energy absorbing section made of the same foam used for the cushion. The headlights are mounted high to increase the deformable area presented during collision with a pedestrian. In addition to an indicator light, the wing mirror incorporates a white reflector to ensure visibility at night when the vehicle is parked. The low waistline, wide windscreen and transparent roof ensure excellent visibility. Lastly, the use of solid coloured plastics for the external body panels means that the painting process can be eliminated completely for high environmental value.

Interior

Inside the Nido the designers have ensured a stylish and comfortable interior that also maximises safety considerations down to the smallest detail. The space normally taken up by the steering column and traditional pedal box has been freed up by the use of a 'steer and brake by wire' system, which means that these components no longer intrude into the passenger compartment and also allow the use of a spokeless steering wheel, maximising instrument visibility.

The doors are fitted with rhomboid aluminium alloy hinges and are oversized in comparison with average comparable components on other cars to facilitate the exit of occupants after an accident. The inner door panel has been designed so that there are no hazardous protuberances during a collision. Inside the passenger compartment a number of parts are also made from soft materials. The door handles, for example, also function as emergency door releases. The dash assembly serves a dual role: it houses the instruments and is an integral part of the sled shell, acting to compress the honeycomb absorber during a collision. It also performs an energy-absorbing role, as its internal components (heater, air pipes) have been designed to contribute to dissipating energy in a collision.

A veltex trim has been applied on the dash and tunnel, so that any loose object (mobile phone, MP3 player, satellite navigator etc) can be fixed by simply applying a Velcro type strip on the object itself. This contributes to cutting the basic cost of the car by balancing the expense of safety features with a simpler internal trim; it also means that the interior of the car can be personalised according to individual tastes and requirements.

With the prototype Nido now complete, Pininfarina will undertake an industrial feasibility study for hypothetical production 100-120 cars per day for a total of 20,000 units over 5 years.

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